ABSTRACT
This study examined the role of childhood abuse and neglect in sensitizing adolescents to the effects of proximal stressful life events in a cross-sectional sample of 103 depressed and nondepressed adolescents. Consistent with hypotheses, adolescents with a history of childhood abuse and/or neglect reported a lower level of threat of stressful life events prior to episode onset than that reported by those without. This effect was specific to those on their 1st episode of depression and was specific to independent events (i.e., stressors outside of adolescents' control). Further, this effect was robust when controlling for level of chronic difficulties, which was higher in those with childhood abuse and/or neglect. The authors suggest that childhood abuse and/or neglect may be an important risk factor that sensitizes individuals to the effects of acute independent life events.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse/psychology , Child Abuse/statistics & numerical data , Depressive Disorder, Major/epidemiology , Life Change Events , Adolescent , Child , Comorbidity , Depressive Disorder, Major/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder, Major/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness Index , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
In a sample of 299 children (grades 2, 4, and 6), we examined parenting and negative life events as predictors of depressive cognitions, specifically low self-perceived competence, depressive cognitive schemas, and depressogenic attributional style. We also examined developmental trends in these relations. Children completed measures of parenting, negative life events, and depressive cognitions. Parents also completed measures of parenting and negative life events. Consistent with our hypotheses, negative parenting and negative life events corresponded with higher levels of depressive cognitions, whereas positive parenting corresponded with lower levels of depressive cognitions. The relations between negative parenting and negative automatic thoughts were stronger for older children. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Subject(s)
Cognition , Depression/epidemiology , Life Change Events , Parent-Child Relations , Parenting , Adolescent , Child , Depression/diagnosis , Depression/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Severity of Illness Index , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
This study examined the combined and cumulative effects of supportive-positive and harsh-negative parenting behaviors on children's depressive symptoms. A diverse sample of 515 male and female elementary and middle school students (ages 7 to 11) and their parents provided reports of the children's depressive symptoms. Parents provided self-reports of supportive-positive and harsh-negative parenting behaviors. Structural equation modeling indicated that supportive-positive and harsh-negative parenting behaviors were nearly orthogonal dimensions of parenting and both related to children's depressive symptoms. Supportive-positive parenting behaviors did not moderate the relation between harsh-negative parenting behaviors and children's depressive symptoms. Results have implications for family intervention and prevention strategies.
